Sub goalie saves last-minute Diarmuid O’Connor penalty as Knockmore march on

BALLINTUBBER 0-12 KNOCKMORE 2-9

What massive drama. Diarmuid O’Connor struck his spot-kick well, but Ryan McDonnell guessed right and was rewarded.

Mayo GAA and nail-biting, hand-wringing drama come hand-in-hand.

The Mayo senior football club championship delivered a huge dollop of drama, this evening, as Knockmore beat Ballintubber in the quarter finals.

Knockmore led 1-6 to 0-6 at the break, thanks in large part to a crisply struck Aidan Orme goal, after 11 minutes. They grabbed a second goal, after the break, and looked to home and hosed.

Several hold-ups in the game saw referee Declan Corcoran play six minutes of added time. That stretched to eight minutes when there was a last-gasp penalty awarded to Ballintubber. The call came after Knockmore had put 13 players on the goal-line to repel a late O’Connor free.

Knockmore were forced to bring on substitute goalkeeper Ryan McDermott to face Diarmuid O’Connor.

The Mayo star struck his penalty well but McDermott flung to his right and saved the day. As he jumped up to gather the rebound, Corcoran blew up for full-time.

What a moment for Knockmore substitute goalkeeper Ryan McDonnell. Brought off the bench, he denies Diarmuid O'Connor from the penalty spot in the final play to send Knockmore through to Mayo's last four at the expense of Ballintubber. pic.twitter.com/i8HYvxtpz3

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) October 23, 2021

Earlier in the day, there was more edge-of-the-seat action as Fionn McDonagh stepped up with a late, late point to win Westport’s thrilling quarter final with Ballina.

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